For most of the population, social networking sites are harmless forums of expression; even if we know that our lives are not interesting enough to necessitate an update every ten minutes. However, each day there are examples of Twitter, FaceBook, or Tumblr, being used to harass or bully, and even as forums to air issues previously left for more private venues.A growing concern has officials struggling to monitor these sites in an effort to stop victims of various crimes from being victimized all over again. A prime example is Lisa Gesik. Gesik gets constant “Friend” requests from her ex-husband, Michael Gladney, who is in prison for kidnapping her and her daughter… neither she nor prison officials can prove that that he is the one sending the messages.Gesik is just one example of a growing epidemic. Karen Carrisosa of Sacramento gets messages from Fredrick Garner who is serving a 22-year sentence for killing her husband.

Recently Timothy Heaphy, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia successfully prosecuted John Conner and Whitney Roberts after they set up a Facebook account to intimidate a witness preparing to testify against them, “How the hell can u b a gangsta when u snitchin and lien…” In this case officials were able to trace the source of the post.I’m not sure this type of contact is what Mark Zuckerburg had in mind when developing FaceBook.

Shawn Period 3

11/21/2011 11:11:59 pm

I know for a fact this is not what mark wanted to happen when creating Facebook. But you can't really control what you say or put. Yes you cant post that your gonna go kill someone or anything like that. But to try and control the whole social networking Internet? It wouldn't even be possible to match the amount of people on the Internet. Facebook had like 700 million users. Please tell me where you will find the time and money that we don't have to be able to monitor the web. Possible, yes. Worth it, not at all

Katie P6

11/22/2011 03:32:55 am

I highly doubt this is what Mark wanted or even expected to happen. This is where people need to take precausions because sights like facebook and twitter can ruin your life. You can put infinte information about yourself on these social networks which can cause anyone to persue anything they can to you. There should not be an excuse of
"oh it told me to put it" or "it was nessacary to make the account" because if there are sights that make personal information required they are probably not a site you want to be on. People need to take percausions to these social networks and if anyone is harrasing them or making them feel uncomfortable they should deffinitly make it known to someone immediatly.

sarah period 6

11/22/2011 04:24:50 am

it's obvious that Mark didn't want Facebook to be like this. it's used for getting in touch with old friends. but, people should still be careful about what they write and put. it's a bad idea to put any personal information, like phone number, address. anyone can see what you put on the internet and this is a clear example. there are a lot of weird people out there..

Monica Period6

11/22/2011 04:30:24 am

Mark clearly didn't want this to happen. Like Sarah said Facebook and Twitter are Social Media sites , used to talk and connect with friends and other people not to harm or harass people. You should always take caution with what information you put or submit online , you never know who see's it or doesn't see it. In today's world there are a lot of creepers and weirdos , online of the first place they go to find information on harmless people. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU POST/SHARE/TWEET ONLINE =)

Nikkii Period 6

11/22/2011 04:47:38 am

I, for one, believe that FaceBook is overrated and overexposed. When utilized as a tool to keep in touch with distant friends and relatives, FaceBook is ideal. However, when someone posts statuses telling 300+ people to text them because their bored or that there eating is truly pathetic. Bullying: whether verbal, physical, or online, is immoral. Undoubtedly, there is no need to lower another’s self esteem. I once saw on FaceBook a younger classman that set his status as: If you think _____________ is ugly, like this. Unfortunately, over twenty people ‘liked’ his status. All in all, FaceBook needs to be carefully monitored to prevent occurrences like these.

Julianna Period 2

11/22/2011 05:07:02 am

I think this is a horrible blog. Why would the prison guards, and or the people that are in charge of these criminals allow them to do this? These people are in jail for a reason. The people that have been affected by these people hope that in prison they will be free from them and their harrassment. But, apparentley not, which is bad! These criminals should be observed and guarded all day, everyday so they cannot smuggle phones in. There is a reason why there people are in jail and they deserve the time they have to serve. I feel so horrible for the victims of these horrible criminals!

Luke P6

11/22/2011 05:45:52 am

This is really unfortunate not only for the women that were threatened, but for Facebook's reputation. I know there are some parents out there that won't let their kids have Facebook accounts ever or until they're a certain age because they don't want their kids having contact with strangers. It is completely unnecessary for these criminals to be talking and messaging these women though. What's the purpose of it. It's not like they're going to find them somehow and murder them. The women aren't going to be giving out any information either. And when these guys do get out of jail, the police are going to keep an eye on them. Maybe it's just to scare the women. Either way it's pointless.

Carrie period 6

11/22/2011 08:31:38 am

I agree with Nikkii. Bullying on Facebook has become regular and not talked about enough. The original Facebook, before Mark Zuckerburg's, was Harvard's. It was literally a book of their students pictures and some of their information. Mark used that idea and created the Facebook that we all know today.
But the fact that now criminals and bullies are using it to make their victims relive what they have gone through over and over again is absolutely terrible and should be stopped.

Sara period2

11/22/2011 09:29:20 am

This is horrible. It's sickning how people bully others for no reason.. especially in jail. Like you're already in trouble so just leave it at that. The fact that criminals that are supposed to be locked up and have no contact with the outside world but they're still talking and threatning me would scare the crap out of me. I feel SO bad for the victims of these messages. I really hope they find out that it's actually the criminals and make sure people don't smuggle phones in jail!

Jess Period 2

11/22/2011 09:56:33 am

Reading this honestly gave me the chills and made me feel completely disgusted and horrified. To think people are actually terrorizing victims AFTER they've been incarcerated is so wrong. Victims usually think they have some form of peace and justice after the felon has been put in jail, but apparently not. Prisons should crack down on their security and do more in-depth inspections to make sure nothing is being smuggled in to inmates. This is horrifying.

Emma period 6

11/22/2011 10:18:24 am

Im pretty sure that mark zuckerburg did not intend for these things to happen when he created facebook. I thinks that it is not good for the prisoners to somehow be using facebook, or even the internet. it shouldnt be safe for them, even if they are monitored. Also, people should be more careful when they accept friend requests and when they post things, because they never know when things can get out to certain people, and even when their things are locked, how crazy people can hack in.

Paige Period 3

11/22/2011 02:06:46 pm

Out of all the websites I would have to say Formspring is by far the worse. The inventors of these websites didnt think that the sites would be used for bullying, stalking, harassing, etc. the people who use the websites are the ones who abuse it which is sad.

Kayla Period 3

11/23/2011 03:35:17 am

I don't think the creators of these sites meant for this to happen. With all of these sites, there will be immature people who bully others. It is weird that they would let a man in prison go on the internet. There is a reason they are in prison. They should not be able to have access to much of the outside world.

Lexi Period 1

11/23/2011 04:56:27 am

Mark Zuckerburg could not have intended on this to happen. But there are people out there that no matter what they will ruin a good thing. It's almost as if they try to start drama. People say stuff they normally wouldn't over the internet because they aren't face to face. There are people who may have an obsession or just like bullying through social networks because they feel that nothing can be done to them because it is online. There is bullying and harrassment everywhere but online provides what may seem to be a shield for them which is why we have a cyber bullying problem.

Jamie period 3

11/23/2011 05:49:03 am

I think people should start watching the things that they type on the internet otherwise it is there forever. The things they say can hurt someone on the inside and it will be shown to the rest of the world.

Shae T period 6

11/23/2011 07:46:40 am

okay, it's understandable that there really is nothing left to do to people who are in prison for life, but seriously? The guards are letting them use computers? They are in prison for a reason, just because they can't do damage on the outside anymore does not mean they can't do damage from the inside. People don't seem to realize that whatever they put on the internet can't ever be taken off, and doing and saying nasty things like that can cause a lot of problems.

Corey Period 2

11/24/2011 10:16:20 am

Mark clearly intended on creating a site that was to be used as an online media site that is intended on spreading news quickly. I do not believe it was to be used as a tool for harrassment. Of course they knew it was going to be used as one eventually, but that was not the idea for why the site was created.

Jenna; Period 1

11/24/2011 11:37:15 am

The creator of Facebook did not intend for this to happen. People don't understand how to utilize certain things, and end up abusing it. This whole issue with criminals using social networks for harassment is just confusing.

Gabe Per. 2

11/25/2011 12:34:38 pm

Its unbelievable that prisoners are able to smuggle in things that connect to the internet, and that prison guards don't notice them using the devices. I also find it disgusting that a witness was intimidated on facebook, but i feel better when I know it was traced back to the people who did it.

That Guy Pd.6

11/25/2011 12:53:28 pm

Well this is quite a shocker (sarcasm). You are letting convicts have access to the rest of the world basically, seeing how many people are on Facebook. They should not be allowed to use any social networking whatsoever. Cyber bulling is a crime too and if they are giving them the chance to commit another crime, then prison isn't really working is it? I'm just questioning the ability to even give convicts access to the internet in the first place.

Alexis Period 1

11/25/2011 01:21:23 pm

i cannot understand why people are scared of cyber bullying, it's online. like, someone can't kill you through facebook! sticks and stones may break my bones but facebook messages will never hurt me. :-) that's why they have a block button!! use it! if you don't, then dont complain about threatening messages ;)

but how to convicts even get on facebook....

Brianna

11/25/2011 09:11:31 pm

What I don't understand is why convicts are allowed on Facebook? But that's beside the point, this is definitely not what Mark wanted when creating Facebook. It is hard to escape these type of things when you are involved in social networking. I guess since anyone can have access to the internet and social networking you need to realize what you are getting yourself into when you're making a Facebook or Twitter. I am not making excuses for those who bully or in the case of these convicts, harass people on Facebook but now that these things are known to do on social networking you have to deal with it yourself. No one is forcing you to make a Facebook or Twitter!

Allie Per3

11/25/2011 10:40:11 pm

When making these social networking sites available it is inevitable that some people will abuse them. Although the creators of such sites don't intend for it, they are giving these bullies a platform. This doesn't mean without these tools the bullies wouldn't exist. They could have sent letters. Mean people will do anything in their power to be mean.

Deveny period 6

11/25/2011 11:01:09 pm

Not only is this super creepy but it I also very discouraging as well. The creepy aspect is that these are prisoners who have gotten in contacted with he victim or their loved ones. It is also discouraging because clearly the guards or the prisons in general are not paying close enough attention to he sites the convicts are going on.

Kyle Period 4

11/26/2011 12:30:28 am

I like FaceBook and Tumblr, but I still don't get why people have to bully each other on those websites. There just websites and they're there to keep you busy, it's not like they're there for evil purposes. It's also weird how these prisoners can get to FaceBook. I would imagine guards would be on top of that. I for one do not think that the creators of these website had these problems in mind. If I was to create a website I know that problems like this would pop in my head; therefore, I would not create one. It's just to complicated. The people that bully other people online should really be ashamed of themselves. They need to grow up a little.

Danielle Period 3

11/26/2011 12:40:34 am

Mark defiantly didn't want the site to be used for this. Some people are just creeps and they constantly message you and send friend requests right after you delete them. As for the bullying kids need to mature. Other kids need to stand up for other people too if they see that happening. Everyone has at least been bullied once or twice in life. But they choose to continue with it instead of helping.

jami period 1

12/6/2011 06:13:06 am

Ive actually had a similiar experience. Not a murderer or anything but a strange boy did pretty much stalk me through facebook. When I first had it I put all of information up, including my phone number. Which he got and actually called me multiple times. I finally had to block him, and make my facebook private. That is one good thing that you can make your facebook page private, and I now only accept people I make sure I know